ANTIPOLO CITY – TNT suspended high-scoring guard Mikey Williams for one week without pay for often missing practice, including one last Saturday.
The 30-year-old former Rookie of the Year was not around during the Tropang Giga’s PBA Commissioner’s Cup game against the Phoenix Fuel Masters following the disciplinary action.
[READ: TNT warns 'habitual absentee' Mikey of heavier penalties]
TNT team manager Jojo Lastimosa said Williams will also miss a match on Nov. 5 against Terrafirma owing to the suspension.
Williams also failed to join the Tropang Giga during their team building in Batangas.
The incident is just the latest in what seemed to be a love-hate relationship between the Fil-Am guard and the franchise that selected him No. 4 overall pick in last year’s rookie draft.
Williams initially had a protracted contract negotiation with TNT management during his rookie season before eventually agreeing to a two-year deal and play for the Tropang Giga, but not after missing a few games of the Philippine Cup.
After helping the team win the all-Filipino title and later claim Rookie of the Year and Mythical First Team honors, the Cal State Fullerton product sought a contract extension in yet another long-drawn negotiations between both parties.
Similarly, he missed five games of the all-Filipino conference last June before rejoining TNT in a campaign which eventually had the team ending runner-up behind San Miguel following a best-of-seven title series that went the full route.
TNT has been known for not tolerating its players and handing out disciplinary actions to those who violated team rules.
Big man Dave Marcelo was suspended by management for Game 6 of the Philippine CUp finals in the Bacolor bubble for figuring in a skirmish with Magnolia's Aris Dionisio at the lobby of their hotel after Game 5.
The Tropang Giga went on and won the title clincher, 94-79, in the absence of Marcelo.